15.3 Million Watch NBC's Derby Coverage

NBC Sports' coverage of the 140th Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) May 3 averaged 15.3 million viewers, according to fast national data provided today by The Nielsen Company.

California Chrome's victory in Saturday's race (6:06-6:52 p.m. ET) marks the fourth time in six years (2009, 2010, 2013, 2014) that NBC's Kentucky Derby coverage averaged more than 15 million viewers. From 1991-2008, Kentucky Derby average viewership did not reach 15 million.

—Viewership increased 3% from 2012 (14.8 million for I'll Have Another's victory)--the last time the Kentucky Derby faced head-to-head competition from the NBA Playoffs.

—NBC's 9.4/22 household rating for the Kentucky Derby ranks as the best Saturday rating on any network since the 2014 Sochi Olympics on NBC (9.6/17 on Feb. 15).

—Louisville, the home of the Kentucky Derby, topped the metered markets with a 37.8 rating/66 share (top 20 markets listed below).

Fans live-streamed a record 4.38 million minutes of the Kentucky Derby on NBC Sports Live Extra—the NBC Sports Group's live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets—a 59% increase over last year for coverage which included four exclusive camera angles (grandstand, paddock, overhead, jockey), bonus analysis from NBC Sports commentators, and replays and footage from key "Road to the Kentucky Derby" prep races.

KENTUCKY DERBY VIEWERSHIP

2014

15.3 million

NBC

California Chrome

2013

16.2 million

NBC

Orb

2012

14.8 million

NBC

I’ll Have Another

2011

14.5 million

NBC

Animal Kingom

2010

16.5 million

NBC

Super Saver

2009

16.1 million

NBC

Mine That Bird

2008

14.2 million

NBC

Big Brown

2007

13.7 million

NBC

Street Sense

2006

12.9 million

NBC

Barbaro

2005

13.6 million

NBC

Giacomo

2004

14.6 million

NBC

Smarty Jones

2003

11.8 million

NBC

Funny Cide

2002

12.8 million

NBC

War Emblem

2001

13.5 million

NBC

Monarchos

2000

9.1 million

ABC

Fusaichi Pegasus

1999

9.9 million

ABC

Charismatic

1998

9.5 million

ABC

Real Quiet

1997

11.3 million

ABC

Silver Charm

1996

11.0 million

ABC

Grindestone

1995

9.3 million

ABC

Thunder Gulch

1994

12.1 million

ABC

Go For Gin

1993

11.5 million

ABC

Sea Hero

1992

13.7 million

ABC

Lil E Tee

1991

13.4 million

ABC

Strike The Gold

1990

15.6 million

ABC

Unbridled

1989

18.5 million

ABC

Sunday Silence

TOP METERED MARKETS FOR 2014 KENTUCKY DERBY (Race Portion)

1

Louisville

37.8/66

2

Ft. Myers

21.3/40

3

West Palm Beach

17.8/31

4

Buffalo

16.8/32

5

Cincinnati

16.7/35

6

Boston

15.5/35

7

Columbus

14.4/31

8

Orlando

14.3/26

T9.

Tampa-St. Pete

13.6/25

T9.

Indianapolis

13.6/28

11

Knoxville

13.5/26

12

Minneapolis

13.1/33

13

Hartford

13.0/27

T14.

Baltimore

12.9/27

T14.

Providence

12.9/25

T14.

Dayton

12.9/26

17

Milwaukee

12.4/29

T18.

Washington, DC

12.2/28

T18.

Richmond

12.2/24

T18.

Tulsa

12.2/24

PREAKNESS STAKES ON NBC SPORTS, MAY 17: In two weeks, Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome will take one more step to try to become the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 36 years, since Affirmed in 1978. NBC Sports Group coverage of The Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Md., begins Friday, May 16 at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN. NBC presents The Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 17 at 4:30 p.m. ET with coverage beginning at 1 p.m. ET on NBCSN.